Apparatus for treating woven plastic bandages used in orthopedic casts

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for uniformly wetting knitted plastic bandages used to form orthopedic casts and splints with measured amounts of treating solution in which portions of the fibers making up the bandage are soluble in certain chemical solutions. The apparatus comprises an upper tray rotatable about its axis for holding a measured amount of the treating solution or fluid, a lower tray rotatable about its axis for holding a roll of bandage material, and distributing means positioned between the upper and lower trays for uniformly distributing the treating solution over the bandage. The tray may be sectioned to handle bandages of different widths.

United States Patent Anderson [is] 3,693,587 [451 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOVEN PLASTIC BANDAGES USED IN ORTHOPEDIC CASTS [72] Inventor: Roger Anderson, 5421 First Ave. S.,

Seattle, Wash. 98108 [22] Filed: April 10, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 815,085

[52] U.S. Cl. ..ll8/304, 68/205 R, 118/400 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05c 3/09, B05c 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..68/205 R; 222/166; 118/300,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,368,687 2/1921 Bennetts ..222/l66 X 3,155,286 11/1964 Van Peursem ..222/166 Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh AttorneySeed, Berry & Dowrey [5 7] ABSTRACT Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for uniformly wetting knitted plastic bandages used to form orthopedic casts and splints with measured amounts of treating solution in which portions of the fibers making up the bandage are soluble in certain chemical solutions. The apparatus comprises an upper tray rotatable about its axis for holding a measured amount 'of the treating solution or fluid, a lower tray rotatable about its axis for holding a roll of bandage material, and distributing means positioned between the upper and lower trays for uniformly distributing the treating solution over the bandage. The tray may be sectioned to handle bandages of different widths.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED sms m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 FlG -ll I PATiNTlinssrzs I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 FJIG=4 ROGER ANDERSON INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOVEN PLASTIC BANDAGES USED IN ORTHOPEDIC CASTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for applying a treating solution to knitted plastic bandages used in forming orthopedic casts and splints.

2. Prior Art Relating to the Disclosure Orthopedic casts have been and are generally made from plaster of Paris-impregnated gauze. Because of the many disadvantages of plaster of Paris casts, knitted plastic bandages of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.

2,489,252 were developed. The bandages disclosed in the aforementioned patent are made in the form of a knitted fabric, preferably a thread of extremely fine cellulose acetate fibers and filaments and reinforcing glass fiber, although other fibers or combinations thereof having the requisite characteristics can be used. Strips or bandages of the type described, when employed in forming casts or splints, are wrapped over the skin or over a padding layer inert to the treating solution. The treating solution has, prior to .this time, been applied to the plastic bandage by immersing the bandage roll in a container of the treating solution. A device for doing such is depicted in FIG. 14 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,489,252. If the bandage is left in contact with the treating solution for too long a time, however, it becomes unusable because the fibers, soluble in the treating solution, become so softened, sticky and gelatinous that they adhere to adjacent fibers in the roll to an extent that the bandage strip cannot be unrolled. Also if the treating solution placed in a container of the type described in FIG. 14 is used it becomes increasingly tacky and contaminated from the dissolved portions of the bandage. Replacement of the contaminated treating solution at periodic intervals is easily overlooked by doctors, surgeons and hospital personnel using the apparatus. It is also easy for such personnel to allow the bandage to remain in the treating solution for too long a period of time thereby rendering the bandage unusable.

The new and improved apparatus for subjecting the bandage to the treating solution produces several important advantages over the apparatus and methods heretofore employed in treating the bandage with the solution and the application of the bandage to the patient. A minimum and substantially reduced quantity of solution is used to adequately and properly treat a bandage of a given size. The bandage is not damaged or destroyed by improper treatment and handling. There is no possibility of the solution becoming contaminated so that it is no longer usable. A solution to be used is fresh and not reused in treating subsequent bandages. The treatment of the bandage with the solution is quickly and easily accomplished and in such a manner that the doctor or nurse will not crush or squeeze the bandage and thereby cause the fibers to adhere to one another and preclude or prevent the ease of application to the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention has as its main object an apparatus for treating a knitted or open weave plastic bandage used in forming orthopedic casts and splints with a minimum measured amount of treating solution in which the plastic portion of the fibers making up the bandage are soluble. Since the amount of the treating solution used is predetermined for the size bandage employed, there is no waste of the treating solution. Likewise there is no danger of using treating solution which has been completely or partially contaminated since a predetermined amount of fresh solution is used to treat each bandage.

The apparatus broadly comprises an upper tray for holding a predetermined, measured amount of treating solution in which a portion of the fibers making up the weave of the bandage are soluble, a lower tray for holding a roll of the bandage material and a distribution means located between the upper and lower trays for dispensing the treating solution delivered thereto from the upper tray uniformly over the plastic bandage roll. The trays may be sectioned to handle differing widths of bandages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along section line 3-3 showing in detail the position of the upper tray, lower tray and distribution means in relation to each other;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view along line 4-4 showing the lower tray in draining position; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a typical knitted plastic bandage roll used in the apparatusof this invention. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To enable persons to use the knitted bandages of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,489,252 more easily, the apparatus of this invention was devised. The knitted bandages used in this apparatus are preferably made of a thread formed from multiple fibers of a plastic filament, such as cellulose acetate, and a reinforcing fiber, such as glass fiber. The bandages are usually made in the form of strips having a width of from 2 to 6 inches and a length of about 12 feet. These strips are rolled into rolls suitable for ease of application and packaging. When the bandages are ready to be applied about an injured member, the bandage roll is first treated with a treating solution to lightly moisten and partially dissolve the cellulose acetate fiber. The treating solution used contains selected solvents for the cellulose acetate and other plastics. If an excess of the treating solution is in contact with the bandage for too long a period of time, the cellulose acetate fibers are so gelatinized and softened that they stick together. Once this happens the strip of bandage material is impossible to unroll for application to the injured member of the patient being treated. The apparatus overcomes these difficulties in that it provides a predetermined amount of fresh, uncontaminated treating solution to treat the bandage roll at the time of treatment; the treatment time is controlled; and the bandage is uniformly wetted with the treating solution. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the apparatus of this invention comprises a frame 1 having vertical members la and 1b and members 1e to which horizontal members 10 and 1d are attached with cross braces 1f, lg, 1):, and 1k attached to the horizontal and vertical members; an upper tray 2 for holding a measured amount of the treating fluid; a lower tray 10 for holding a roll or rolls of the knitted bandage material; and distribution means 18 located between the upper and lower trays for dispensing the treating solution delivered thereto from the upper tray uniformly over the roll of bandage material.

The trays may be sectioned by cylindrical section members and 14 respectively so that bandage rolls of differing widths can be used in the same apparatus. Section members 5 and 14 are of the same diameter as end members 3, 4, 11 and 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the apparatus can handle bandage rolls ranging in width from about 2 4 inches to 5 be inches.

Both the upper and lower trays 2 and are rotatably mounted on shafts 7 and respectively which are journalled through the axis of the cylindrical end members and the extreme ends of frame members Handle 9 is eccentrically attached to either end member 3 or 4 of the upper tray to enable a person using the apparatus to rotate the tray when the treating solution is to be applied to the bandage. Handle 16 is attached to the lower tray 10 to distribute treating solution to all parts of the bandage held in the lower tray and to enable the bandage to be easily removed from the tray.

The side walls of upper tray 2 should be sufficiently high (see FIG. 3) to allow a predetermined amount of treating solution to be delivered thereinto without danger of overflow. To mark the level for the amount of treating solution needed to appropriately wet a bandage roll, indicating members 8 are provided and secured to one of the side walls of the upper tray.

The side walls of lower tray 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) should be sufficiently high to hold the bandage roll and prevent drainage of the treating solution except when desired. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the forward side wall of lower tray 10 is formed with an extended lip while the rearward side wall extends upwardly around the circumference of end members 11 and I2 substantially above the horizontal center line. The opening between the side walls should be sufficient to allow the bandage roll to be readily inserted and withdrawn without undue squeezing or pressure on the bandage roll. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 the forward edge of the tray is spaced outwardly from the members 11, 12 and 14. This permits extending the wall upwardly to the desired height and also permits easy removal of the bandage roll from the tray. Wedge shaped fillers 11a, 12a and 14a are secured between the end walls and partition to close the space therebetween. When the tray is rotated to a position where the opening faces downward the bandage will fall freely from the tray into the doctors hand. Preferably the end walls 3, 4 of upper tray 2 and walls 11, 12 of lower tray 10 have weights 27 and 28 respectively to hold the trays in their normal upright position, thereby preventing accidental spillage of the treating solution in the upper tray and accidental removal of the bandage from the lower tray.

Between the upper and lower trays is located a distributing means for distributing the treating solution uniformly over the bandage material positioned in the lower tray. Treating solution poured from upper tray 2 must be able to penetrate the bandage roll in the lower tray and wet all parts of the bandage uniformly. Care The distributing means comprises a funnel 17 having a lower parallel-walled portion 18 and a bottom wall 19 with uniformly spaced holes 19a therein. The distance between the point where the treating solution leaves upper tray 2 and the bottom wall 19 and the size and location of holes 19a in the bottom wall determine the penetration of the treating solution into the interior of the bandagev roll. The funnel is sectioned by wall member 21 as shown for treating bandage rolls of different widths. When treating a relatively wide bandage of approximately 5 inches in width, it is necessary to provide additional holes 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) in the bottom wall 19 to obtain a uniformly wetted bandage. The location and size of the holes necessary to uniformly wet bandage rolls of varying size can be determined by one skilled in the art. It has also been determined that a narrow elongated slot may be formed in the bottom wall 19 to provide a passage therethrough. A slot approximately one sixteenth of an inch wide permits the solution to be quickly and evenly dispersed over the bandage roll.

The treating solution is delivered to the upper tray 2 from container 30 shown in FIG. 1. To enable easy delivery of the treating solution from the container to upper tray 2 a threaded cap 31 having a delivery pipe 32 and an air pressure pipe 33 to which a bulb 34 is attached, are provided. A valve 35 controls delivery of the treating solution through pipe 32 to spigot 36 which is swingable about its point of attachment to delivery pipe 32 so that the treating solution can be delivered to either of the chambers of the upper tray depending on the width bandage being wetted.

Spring 22 is attached between point 23 and handle 16 of lower tray 10. On the opposite side of the lower tray islocated a release mechanism 24 having a plunger therein which normally retains the lower tray in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this position spring 22 is stretched. When the plunger is retracted spring 22 rotates the lower tray to the position shown in FIG. 4. Pin 25, located on the same end of the lower tray as the release mechaism 24, contacts the frame member 1e on rotation of the lower tray thereby determining the stopping point of the tray. Pin 25 should be located such that the lower tray can rotate to the position shown in FIG. 4.

In operation, a roll of bandage material 26, such as shown in FIG. 5, is placed in one of the compartments of the lower tray 10, depending on the width of the bandage used. The lower tray is positioned with the opening directed upwardly and the bandage is placed in the appropriate compartment. Treating solution is then delivered from container 30 to the section of the upper tray directly above the bandage. When the level of the treating solution reaches the indicator level 8 the valve 35 is closed. Upper tray 2 is then rotated counterclockwise by means of handle 9 allowing the treating solution therein to flow into the upper portion of funnel 17. The treating solution flows through the lower portion 18 of the funnel and the holes in the bottom of funnel onto the bandage roll, the plunger of the release mechanism 24 is retracted allowing the lower tray to rotate clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 4. This rotation is accomplished by the tension force of the spring 22. The clockwise rotation of the lower tray permits free solution in the tray to contact circumferential areas of the bandage to wet such portions which have not been previously contacted by the solution. The rotation of the tray is rapidly accomplished after the fluid stops flowing from the funnel. The tray is then rotated counterclockwise and the bandage falls into the hand of the doctor. Any remaining solution in the lower tray flows into a pan or tray placed below the bandage drenching device.

Based on my experiments I have found that it requires approximately three quarter ounce of solution to properly and adequately wet a foot of bandage approximately 5 inches wide. This is substantially less than the quantity of solution used in wetting a bandage by dunking. Also when the dunking technique is employed the remaining solution becomes contaminated and the bandage is damaged by over wetting.

The apparatus of this invention overcomes many of the human shortcomings involved in use of knitted bandages of the type described. It enables the bandages to be easily and quickly used by doctors, surgeons and other hospital personnel. By controlling the amount of treating solution used to treat the bandage rolls and by designing the apparatus as shown, problems associated with bandage rolls of the type disclosed have been overcome.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus for uniformly wetting with a measured amount of treating solution a roll of knit fabric used in forming orthopedic casts and splints, the fabric composed in part of plastic fibers soluble in the treating solution, comprising:

solution holding means holding a measured amount of the treating solution,

a rotatably mounted tray having cylindrical end members of a diameter substantially the same as that of the fabric roll to be treated and a sheet member encircling the cylindrical end members over a portion of the circumference of the end members leaving a top opening of sufficient width to allow the fabric roll to be easily inserted and withdrawn but of sufficient height to prevent overflow of the measured amount of treating solution from the tray except on rotation thereof, and

distribution means positioned above said tray for dispensing the treating solution delivered from the solution holding means uniformly over the fabric roll.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tray includes means for automatic rotation thereof a predetermined distance.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said automatic rotation means includes a spring attached to said tray, means for releasing the tray for rotation, and means for stopping rotation of the tray at a predetermined point allowing excess fluid to drain from the tray but retainingthe fabric roll therein.

. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the distribution means includes an elongated funnel having a plurality of openings in the bottom thereof spaced along the length of the tray so as to wet the fabric roll positioned in said tray uniformly over its width. 

1. An apparatus for uniformly wetting with a measured amount of treating solution a roll of knit fabric used in forming orthopedic casts and splints, the fabric composed in part of plastic fibers soluble in the treating solution, comprising: solution holding means holding a measured amount of the treating solution, a rotatably mounted tray having cylindrical end members of a diameter substantially the same as that of the fabric roll to be treated and a sheet member encircling the cylindrical end members over a portion of the circumference of the end members leaving a top opening of sufficient width to allow the fabric roll to be easily inserted and withdrawn but of sufficient height to prevent overflow of the measured amount of treating solution from the tray except on rotation thereof, and distribution means positioned above said tray for dispensing the treating solution delivered from the solution holding means uniformly over the fabric roll.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tray includes means for automatic rotation thereof a predetermined distance.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said automatic rotation means includes a spring attached to said tray, means for releasing the tray for rotation, and means for stopping rotation of the tray at a predetermined point allowing excess fluid to drain from the tray but retaining the fabric roll therein.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the distribution means includes an elongated funnel having a plurality of openings in the bottom thereof spaced along the length of the tray so as to wet the fabric roll positioned in said tray uniformly over its width. 